Tennessee to spend $5.3M on coaching salaries

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Tennessee will pay more than $5.3 million to its football coaches in 2009, including $2 million for head coach Lane Kiffin $1.2 million for defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

The previous staff under Phillip Fulmer was set to make a combined $4.7 million in 2009.

Recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has the next largest salary with $650,000 this season. Offensive coordinator and line coach Jim Chaney will make $380,000, and linebackers coach Lance Thompson will make $350,000.

The total ranks Tennessee's football coaching salary pool fourth among the Southeastern Conference's football programs.

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"While our coaches' salary model is unique, we feel it is a great model for Tennessee," Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said in a statement. "Coach Kiffin understands the power of putting together a great team, and he used the budget we provided to assemble what many will consider to be the best staff in America."

Monte Kiffin, Orgeron, Chaney and Thompson will each hold three-year contracts while the remaining coaches will receive two-year deals.

Running backs and special teams coach Eddie Gran will make $185,000, quarterbacks coach David Reaves and wide receivers coach Frank Wilson will each make $150,000 and defensive backs coach Willie Garza will make $110,000.

"Our funding model requires football to be successful in order to fund other sports and not detract from the university's mission," Hamilton said.

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